Signal-horn.



H.H.BOYCE,

SIGNAL HORN.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1914.

1,267,507 Patented May 28,1918.

TEGQ

WITNESSES.- IN EN TOR.

A TTORNE Y HARRISON HURLBERT BOYCE, 0]? FOREST HILLS, NEW YORK.

SIGNAL-HORN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28, 1918.

Application filed September 22, 1914. Serial No. 862,886.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRISON HURLBERT Boron, a citizen of the United States, residing at Forest Hills, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal-Horns, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates more particularly to that class of signal horns in which a flexible diaphragm is used for producing the warning signal.

One of the objects of my invention is to produce a hand-operated horn of this charcter which embodies simplified features of constructon,by means of which a low manufacturing cost is attained.

A. further object of my invention is to produce a horn of this character which is capable of emitting a signal of variable length by a manual rotary movement by the hand ofthe operator, as well as a sound of maximum volume .due to the manner in which th diaphragm is vibrated by the striker element of the mechanism.

ther objects will manifest themselves upon a reading of the following specification.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated one preferable mbodiment of my invention, I will proceed to describe the same, having it understood that the said embodiment is illustrative, rather than definitive, as structural detail changes and equivalent expedients may be resorted to without departing from the scope and spirit of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

. Figure 1 is a top plan view of a horn embodying the features of my invention, part of the rear casing being broken away to show the interior details of construction.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section thereof.

The embodiment illustrated may be conveniently described as consisting of a twopart casing comprising a projector section 1 and a rear housing section 2 formed from cast or drawn metal, as desired. These sections are provided with complemental flanges 3 and 1 which are fastened together by means of fastening screws 5.

Between the flanges 3 and 4E and separating the casing is a flexible diaphragm 6 which is held in proper position by means of the aforesaid screws 5. Interposed be tween the circumferential flanges 3 and 4:

. jecting-support and the diaphragm 6 are non-metallic washers 7 and 8 made of cork or some fibrous non-sound-conveying material. The outer end of the projector section 1 is provided with a finishing ring 9, while the outer end of the housing section 2 is closed by an operating member 10. The diaphragm 6 is provided with an anvil 11 taking the form of an adjustable screw of hardened steel provided with a curved or rounded striker-engaging end 12. This anvil is mounted centrally of the diaphragm 6, reinforcing members 13 being provided to add the necessary rigidity to the diaphragm at this point of mountlng.

The operating and blow -transinitting mechanism is extremely simple in construction and is mainly mounted or supported in a supporting yoke or bridge member l t, the ends of which are fastened to the lions ing 2 at points 15 and 16. Journal'ed in suitable openings in the yoke 14 and extending transversely thereof is a spindle 17 upon which the striking element is mounted. This spindle is provided with a pinion 18 through which rotary motion may be imparted thereto. Intermeshing with this pinion is the serrated or toothed end of a tubular part 19 of the operating member 10. This tubular bearing part has a some what close fit within the casing 2 thus providing a tight to lend desirable rigidity to the'parts and maintain true alinement thereof.

Mounted upon the spindle and free thereof is the striker member 20. This striker member is provided with a series of circumferentially arranged teeth 21 of slight pitch and of rounded ends forming between them a series of notches 22. This striker member 20 is of substantial cross-section, the weight of which acts as a fly-wheel in creating kinetic energy which assists in the production of the signal. This striker member is held in, position by a supporting sleeve 23 surrounding the spindle 17 and interposed between the striker member and the bridge piece 14.

The spindle 17 is provided with an enlargement 24 upon which is mounted a pro- 25 which serves as a mount ing for a dog 26. This support 25' is fas-" tened to the enlargement 24: by means of a binding-screw 27 The dog 26 engages a ratchet-wheel 28 which is preferably integral with the striker member 20. A torsion running bearing which serves spring 29 is provided, one end being fastened to thesupport 25 while the opposite free end rests upon the dog 26 and tends ing member 10 extends laterallyof the casing 2 and is provided with a knurled or roughened surface 31 serving as a convenient gripping surface for the hand of the user.

It is thought that the operation of the horn will be readily understood. .By rotating the operating member 10 its complemental teeth engage the pinion 18 and cause the shaft or spindle 17 to rotate vin its bearings. This rotary movement is'transmitted through the support 25 and dog 26 to the ratchet wheel 28. The latter being fast or made integral with the striker member 20, causes the said striker to rotate and bring the teeth or projections 21 on its peripheral V edge into successive engagement with the anvil 10 causing the diaphragm 6 to vibrate and produce the warning signal. By moving the operating member 10 quickly suflicient power can be transmitted to the striker 20 to cause the latter to create an appreciable amount of kinetic energy which will carry .it along in its rotary path after the operating member 10 and spindle 17 have come to rest, thus causing a signal period of long duration.

In order to mount the horn in a convenient manner and to provide for its adjustment, I provide a base 82 having a pair of extending'supports 33 in which is mounted va bearing 34. This bearing 34 is enveloped' by an extended supporting-portion 35 of the projection section 1, this supporting portion being curved and shaped to conj'form to the bearing 34 with which it is in close frictional contact. The frictional adherence between these parts is suflicient to maintain the horn at any angle of verti cal adjustment that the horn might be moved to. I e

' It will be observed fromvthe above that I have produced a horn in which the mechanical operatingparts are 'few and simple and are so arranged as to effect the trans I mission'of the operating force, directly to ;the diaphragm with slight loss or diminishment, as compared to horns of heretofore construction, wherein frictional retardation and complicated transmission are present. I

' Having thus described my invention what I claim as new herein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a diaphragm signal horn, the combination of a tubular housing, a diaphragm supported thereby, a striker rotatable on an axis parallel to the diaphragm, a support for said striker including a spindle, means for rotating said spindle including a pinion, a member having a tubular portion fitting within and having rotatable bearing engagement with said housing and having its inner end provided with serrations adapted to intermesh with said pinion, said tubular member being adapted for manual operation to function said striker to vibrate said diaphragm.

2. In a diaphragm signal horn, the combination of a tubular housing, a diaphragm supported thereby, means for vibrating said diaphragm mounted to rotate on an axis parallel with said diaphragm, and a tubular member conformed to fit within said housing and rotatable in a plane parallel to said diaphragm to actuate said vibrating means, the inner wall of the housing forming a bearing surface for a portion of said tubular,

member, the remainin portion of said member being enlarged and extending beyond the plane of the outer end ofthe housing to provide a surface for the application of a power to said member.

3. In a diaphragm signal horn, the combination of a housing, a diaphragm supported thereby, a striker mechanism within said housing and an actuator for said striker mechanism comprising a substantially cylindrical tubular member having a closed outer end and having teeth on itsinner end and having an enlarged portion forming a handgrip,,the inner portion of said member being received within the rear end of the housing and the end of said member constituting a'closure for the housing.

4. In a diaphragm signal horn, thecombeing of a tubular conformation, a diaphragm fixedly held between said two parts, a striker mechanism within one vpart and a tubular member fitting within the ,bination of a two-part casing, one portion 7 tubular portion of the casing'and mounted for rotation in a plane parallel to the diaphragm to function the striker mechanism,

said tubular member forming a closure for the tubular portion of the casing.

5. Ina diaphragm signal horn, the combinationof a diaphragm, a housing in rear of said diaphragm, a spindle supported within the housing and rotatable about an axis parallel with the diaphragm, a toothed striker on said spindle adapted to vibrate the diaphragm, a pinion on said spindle adja'cent to the wall of said housing and an an nular gear member meshing With said pinion and rotatable about an axis perpendicular to said diaphragm, the periphery of said annular gear member fitting closely Within and being directly supported by contact with the inner surface of the portion of said housing inclosing said gear member.

6. In a diaphragm signal horn, the combination of a diaphragm, a housing in rear of said diaphragm, a spindle supported within the housing and rotatable about an axis parallel with the diaphragm, a toothed striker on said spindle adapted to Vibrate the diaphragm, a pinion on said spindle adjacent to the wall of said housing, an annular gear member meshing with said pinion and rotatable about an axis perpendicular to said diaphragm, said annular gear member fitting closely within and being directly supported by contact with the inner surface of the portion of said housing surrounding and inclosing said gear member and means extending from the rear end of said housing for rotating said annular gear.

7. In a diaphragm signal horn, the combination of a diaphragm, a housing in rear thereof, a yoke mounted Within said housing, a striker supported by said yoke and rotatable about an axis parallel With said diaphragm, an actuating member for the striker mounted in said housing and closing the rear end thereof and means for pivotally connecting said member to said yoke.

8. In a diaphragm signal horn, the combination of a substantially cylindrical openended housing, a diaphragm carried thereby, a striker mechanism within said housing and an actuator for said striker mechanism comprising a member mounted for rotation in a plane parallel to the diaphragm to function said striker mechanism, said member having a tubular cylindrical portion fitting within the rear open end of said housing and having a closed outer end constituting a rear wall and closure for the housing.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRISON HURLBERT BOYCE.

WVitnesses:

WM. 0. DUNN, LILLIAN L. MALZER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

